plate no. 1907

Portrait of Sem (Georges Goursat)

Giovanni Boldini, 1901

oilRealismportraitportraitfiguremanclothingfacehair

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and creating subtle value changes to suggest form. It also provides practice in loose, expressive brushwork.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic proportions and pose of the figure, paying attention to the placement of the head, shoulders, and hands.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of dark brown and umber tones.
step 03
Block in the main areas of the face with light and shadow, focusing on the planes of the face.
step 04
Develop the details of the eyes, nose, and mouth, using subtle color variations to create depth.
step 05
Paint the hair with loose, expressive brushstrokes, capturing the highlights and shadows.
step 06
Add the clothing, paying attention to the folds and textures.
step 07
Refine the overall composition, adjusting values and colors as needed.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · ivory black · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light

Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining black, umber, and sienna with white. Use small amounts of yellow ochre and cadmium red to warm up the skin tones.

techniques

·portrait sketching
·value studies
·alla prima
·broken color
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details of the face, resulting in a stiff and unnatural appearance.
→Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
→Using too much detail in the background, distracting from the main subject.
→Ignoring the subtle value changes that create form.